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SURGEON  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

Richmond,  August  14,  1862. 

The  indifference  heretofore  manifested  by  Medical  Officers,  with  regard 
to  records  of  gunshot  and  other  wounds,  and  operations  thereby  induced", 
necessitates  their  being  instructed  to  keep  accurate  and  reliable  records 
of  all  such  cases,  and  in  view  of  its  importance,  to  give  this  subject  all 
the  attention  it  deserves. 

This  is  demanded  not  only  in  justice  to  the  corps  of  which  they  are 
members,  and  from  which  much  interesting  statistical  information  will  be 
expected  at  the  close  of  the  war,  but  also  for  the  benefit  of  the  science  of 
Surgery  at  large,  which  should  not  be  deprived  of  the  advantages  to  be 
reaped  from  so  extended  a  field  of  observation  as  that  which  now  presents 
itself. 

To  promote  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  Medical  Inspectors 
will  give  special  attention  to  the  examination  of  Case  Books  and  Field 
Notes,  and  will  report  the  relative  industry  and  accuracy  with  which  these 
records  are  kept. 

Medical  Directors  will  require  from  the  Medical  Officers  serving  in  their 
respective  departments,  such  statements  as  can  be  reliably  made,  as  to  the 
history  of  all  wounds  and  consequent  surgical  operations  occurring  in 
commands  under  their  professional  care,  since  the  commencement  of  the 
war — specifying  the  nature  and  seat  of  such  wounds,  the  character  of  the 
operations  performed,  whether  primary,  intermediary  or  secondary,  and 
also  the  corresponding  rate  of  mortality. 

Medical  Officers  will  also  for  the  future  be  required  to  forward  to  the 
Medical  Director,  with  the  Monthly  Reports  of  Sick  and  "Wounded,  accu- 
rately filled  copies  of  the  Blank  Forms  issued  to  the  latter  from  this  office 
for  distribution,  in  which  will  also  be  noted  all  cases  of  secondary  hemor- 
rhage, and  all  interesting  information  as  to  the  results  of  the  use  of 
anaesthetics. 

The  receipt  of  this  Circular  will  be  acknowledged. 

S.  P.  MOORE, 
Surg.  Genl.  C.  S.  Army. 


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